Anonymous disarm detect with built-in camera

ABSTRACT

A system that includes a control panel of a security system that protects a secure geographic area, a user input carried by the panel that receives a disarm instruction disarming the security system, a camera carried by the panel that captures an image of a person entering the disarm instruction and a processor that disarms the security system in response to the received disarm instruction only when a human face of the person is detected by the camera.

FIELD

This application relates to security systems and more particular to interfaces of security systems.

BACKGROUND

Systems are known to protect people and assets within secured areas. Such systems are typically based upon the use of one more sensors that detect threats within the secured area.

Threats to people and assets may originate from any of number of different sources. For example, a fire may kill or injure occupants who have become trapped by a fire in a home. Similarly, carbon monoxide from a fire may kill people in their sleep.

Alternatively, an unauthorized intruder, such as a burglar, may present a threat to assets within the area. Intruders have also been known to injure or kill people living within the area.

In the case of intruders, sensors may be placed in different areas based upon the respective uses of those areas. For example, if people are present during some portions of a normal day and not at other times, then sensors may be placed along a periphery of the space to provide protection while the space is occupied while additional sensors may be placed within an interior of the space and used when the space is not occupied.

In most cases, threat detectors are connected to a local control panel. In the event of a threat detected via one of the sensors, the control panel may sound a local audible alarm. The control panel may also send a signal to a central monitoring station.

While security systems work well, they can be deactivated by someone who knows the proper deactivation codes at an entrance into a secured area. Accordingly, a need exists for better ways of protecting against the improper use of security systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system in accordance herewith;

FIG. 2 depicts a screen that may be displayed by the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 depicts a warning screen that may be displayed by the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While disclosed embodiments can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles thereof as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the application or claims to the specific embodiment illustrated.

FIG. 1 depicts a security system 10 shown generally in accordance with an illustrated embodiment. Included within the security system may be a number of sensors 12, 14 used for detecting threats within a secured geographic area 16. Threats may originate from any of a number of different sources. For example, an intruder may represent a threat to people and/or assets within a home or business. Similarly, a fire or a gas leak may threaten the safety of those same people and/or assets.

Accordingly, the sensors may be embodied in any of a number of different forms. For example, at least some of the sensors may be limit switches placed on the doors and windows providing entry into and egress from the secured area. Some other of the sensors may be passive infrared (PIR) sensors placed within the secured area in order to detect intruders who have been able to circumvent the sensors along the periphery of the secured area. Still other of the sensors may be smoke or fire detectors.

Also included within the secured area is a control panel 17. The control panel may be located within the secured area as shown in FIG. 1 or located remotely.

The control panel may monitor the sensors for activation. Upon activation of one of the sensors, the control panel may compose an alarm message and send it to a central monitoring station 18. The central monitoring station may response by summoning the appropriate help (e.g., police, fire department, etc.).

The security system may be controlled by a human user through use of a user interface 20 located near an entrance into the secured area. The user interface may include a display 22 that shows a status of the security system (e.g., armed disarmed, etc.) and a keyboard 24 for entering instructions.

Included within the control panel, the user interface and each of the sensors may be one or more processor apparatus (processors) 28, 30, each operating under control of one or more computer programs 32, 34 loaded from a non-transitory computer readable medium (memory) 36. As used herein, reference to a step performed by a computer program is also reference to the processor that executed that step.

In this regard, a status processor within the control panel may monitor the keyboard of the user interface for instructions from the human user. The user may enter a personal identification number (PIN) and instruction to arm or disarm the security system. Upon receiving a PIN and instruction through the keyboard, the status processor may compare the PIN with the PIN(s) of authorized users within a reference file 38. If the entered PIN number matches the PIN number of one of the authorized users, then the status processor may execute the instruction entered along with the PIN.

If the instruction is an arm command, then the status processor activates an alarm processor that monitors the sensors. Upon activation of any of the sensors, the alarm processor composes and sends the alarm message to the central monitoring station.

Similarly, if the instruction is an arm-away command, then the alarm processor may only monitor sensors along a periphery of the secured area. As above, upon activation of one of the sensors along the periphery, the alarm processor composes and sends an alarm message to the central monitoring station.

Under one illustrated embodiment, the user interface also includes a television camera 26. A field of view (FOV) 40 of the camera extends outwards from the user interface to capture the head and/or face of the human user 42 entering PINs and commands through the user interface.

Images from the camera are monitored by a face recognition processor. The face recognition processor may operate to detect the presence of a human face in the field of view of the camera at the same time as a PIN and instruction are entered through the keyboard.

The field of view of the camera is adjusted such that an image processor coupled to the camera is able to capture an image of the user entering the PIN and instruction through the keyboard. The captured image is incorporated into a disarm notification that is sent to the central monitoring station. The disarm notification (and image) are saved into a file as evidence of who entered the command along with a time and identifier of the security system. This provides important forensic evidence if it were later found that the security system had been improperly used.

Under one illustrated embodiment, the face detection processor is used to control operation of the security system through the user interface. For example, if the status processor should receive a valid PIN number and command, execution of that command would be delayed until a human face is detected in front of the camera.

It should be noted in this regard that the user interface of FIG. 1 would normally be located within the secured area. In order for a user to enter a disarm command, the user would first be required to open a door (e.g., a front door) to access the user interface and then to enter the disarm command.

Upon opening the door, the user would activate an intrusion sensor connected to the door. In response, a delay processor would delay activation of an intrusion alarm for a predetermined time period (timeout period) in order to allow authorized users to enter a valid PIN and disarm instruction. However, if the user should enter his/her PIN and disarm instruction while purposefully avoiding the camera, then the predetermined delay would expire before execution of the disarm command and an alarm message would be sent to the central monitoring station and a local alarm may be activated.

Stated in another way, the execution of disarm commands are logically ANDed with detection of a human face in front of the user interface. This adds another level of integrity to the proper use of the security system.

In general, it is not necessary for the face recognition processor to be able to determine the identity of the user. The only thing necessary is that the face recognition processor be able to detect the presence of a human face (any human face) in the field of view of the camera.

The control of disarm commands by the face recognition processor may occur under any of a number of different methods. For example, the face recognition processor may continuously scan the field of view for human faces. Alternatively, the face recognition processor may only begin scanning upon activation of one or more of the buttons on the user interface or may even delay scanning until a valid PIN number is detected. In any case, the only requirement is the concurrent presence of a valid PIN, a disarm command and a human face in a field of view of the camera.

Under one illustrated embodiment, a monitoring processor may monitor the delay required for face detection and present a warning to a user on the display of the user interface. For example, FIG. 2 depicts an image from the camera in the case where a user has placed his/her hand over the camera, thereby blocking any detection of a human face. In response, the monitoring processor may depict the image shown in FIG. 3 on the display of the user interface. In this case, so long as the user holds his/her hand over the camera, the screen of FIG. 3 continues to be displayed until the timeout period has expired and an alarm is activated. On the other hand, if the user should remove his/her hand before the end of the timeout period, then the disarm command would be executed and the security system would enter a disarm state. At that time, a facial image from the field of view is also sent to the central monitoring station.

The system of FIG. 1 offers significant advantages over current designs. For example, a system may have a camera built into a control panel. Every time the system is disarmed, the camera captures one picture (image) and sends it to the central monitoring station in order to record who disarmed the system.

In a current design of this type, the system can be disarmed while the built-in camera is blocked by the hand of a user as shown in FIG. 2. As such, anyone who has a valid password can disarm the system without having their image captured by the camera and saved for future reference.

The system of FIG. 1 solves these problems. For example, when somebody tries to disarm the system, the panel detects if anyone's face is in the camera's field of view via an image recognition algorithm executing on a corresponding processor. The system can be disarmed only when someone's face can be captured in an image from the camera. If the correct user code (PIN) is entered and the camera can't detect anybody's face, the system will show one pop-up window and a voice warning until such time as a user's face can be detected within a limited time period.

After the disarm/password is inputted by an authorized user, the panel does a face scan before disarming the security system. The disarm operation succeeds only when a face can be detected within a certain, predetermined time. Otherwise, the system maintains the armed state and alarms upon activation of a sensor.

Under another illustrated embodiment, the requirement for detecting a human face during the disarm process is optional. The process is optional because an authorized user can enable or disable this feature.

Under one illustrated embodiment, the face recognition algorithm does not require a very high degree of face detection reliability. Stated in another way, the face recognition algorithm does not need to detect who is trying to disarm the system. The only thing necessary is that the face recognition algorithm be able to detect whether at least one human face is in the field of view of the camera when the disarm function is activated.

In general, the system includes a control panel of a security system that protects a secure geographic area, a user input carried by the panel that receives a disarm instruction disarming the security system, a camera carried by the panel that captures an image of a person entering the disarm instruction and a processor that disarms the security system in response to the received disarm instruction only when a human face of the person is detected by the camera.

Alternatively, the system includes a security system that protects a secure geographic area, a control panel of the security system located near an entrance into the secure geographic area, a user interface carried by the panel that receives an instruction disarming the security system, a camera carried by the panel that captures an image of a person entering the disarm instruction and a processor that disarms the security system upon receipt of the disarm instruction through the user interface and upon detection of a human face within the captured image.

Alternatively, system includes a security system that protects a secure geographic area, a control panel of the security system, a user interface of the control panel that receives an instruction disarming the security system, a camera carried by the panel that captures an image of a person proximate the user interface, a face recognition processor that detects a human face within the captured image and a processor that disarms the security system upon receipt of the disarm instruction and upon detection of the human face.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. Further, logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be add to, or removed from the described embodiments. 

1. An apparatus comprising: a control panel of a security system that protects a secure geographic area; a user input carried by the panel that receives a disarm instruction disarming the security system; a camera carried by the panel that captures an image of a person entering the disarm instruction; and a processor that disarms the security system in response to the received disarm instruction only when a human face of the person is detected by the camera.
 2. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a processor that sends the captured image to a central monitoring station.
 3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the disarm instruction further comprises a personal identification (PIN) of the person.
 4. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a processor that measures a time period between entry of the disarm instruction and detection of the human face.
 5. The apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising a processor that compares the measured time period with a threshold value and triggers an intrusion alarm upon detecting that the measured time has exceeded the threshold value.
 6. The apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising a processor that sends the intrusion alarm to a central monitoring station.
 7. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a processor that displays a warning on the panel after detecting the disarm instruction and before detecting the human face.
 8. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the warning further comprises a pop-up window shown in a display of the panel.
 9. The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the pop-up window displays a text message indicating that the disarm instruction has failed because a human face could not be detected.
 10. An apparatus comprising: a security system that protects a secure geographic area; a control panel of the security system located near an entrance into the secure geographic area; a user interface carried by the panel that receives an instruction disarming the security system; a camera carried by the panel that captures an image of a person entering the disarm instruction; and a processor that disarms the security system upon receipt of the disarm instruction through the user interface and upon detection of a human face within the captured image.
 11. The apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising a face recognition processor that detects a set of characteristics of the human face.
 12. The apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising a processor that sends the captured image to a central monitoring station.
 13. The apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the disarm instruction further comprises a personal identification (PIN) of the person.
 14. The apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising a processor that measures a time period between entry of the disarm instruction and detection of the human face.
 15. The apparatus as in claim 14 further comprising a processor that compares the measured time period with a threshold value and triggers a local intrusion alarm upon detecting that the measured time has exceeded the threshold value.
 16. The apparatus as in claim 15 further comprising a processor that sends the intrusion alarm to a central monitoring station.
 17. The apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising a processor that displays a warning on the panel after detecting the disarm instruction and before detecting the human face.
 18. The apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the warning further comprises a pop-up window shown in a display of the panel.
 19. The apparatus as in claim 18 wherein the pop-up window displays a text message indicating that the disarm instruction has failed because a human face could not be detected.
 20. An apparatus comprising: a security system that protects a secure geographic area; a control panel of the security system; a user interface of the control panel that receives an instruction disarming the security system; a camera carried by the panel that captures an image of a person proximate the user interface; a face recognition processor that detects a human face within the captured image; and a processor that disarms the security system upon receipt of the disarm instruction and upon detection of the human face. 